Jesus Joins the Power Team?

We wonder if Jesus is now going to break bricks with his head and tear apart phone books so that people will chose him to be their powerful savior.

Comments

[Adam]

This reminds me of Exodus 32: the Israelites having their feast with the golden calf and rising to 'play'. As a very brief overview, they did a number of perverted things for God's sake, and God's reaction was that he was willing to wipe them out and start again with Moses. Moses pleaded with God and God was willing to forgive them. Then Moses punished them by making them grind the calf up into powder, sprinkling it on their water and then making them drink it.

This isn't just isolated to this single topic, but clearly illustrates the point I think: many people are happily doing whatever they wish as their worship of God, without consulting His word to see what He considers to be sinful. If blatantly sinful worship didn't please God back in Moses' day, why would such a thing please Him now?

[Santos Torres]

Some of these guys went to a church once,I was present, and they asked for money. Lots of money. It was sad.

[Lee]

Uh, ok. That was as dumb as "Christian" Aerobics. http://reformationnation.wordpress.com/2007/08/11/when-praising-god-and-aerobics-collide/

[Mike Sheeran]

This group has been around for years. The video you link to was probably recorded at a public school where, as you know, no references to God are permitted. The original shirts had the logo, "The Power Team" and underneath that was the slogan, "God made you to win", which practically meant that God didn't want you to be a loser and remain in your sin.
In their Christian demonstrations, which I saw several years ago, they emphasize the power of God to break the hold on sin, and use their feats of strength to get the attention of young people who are radically changed by their message.
I know you are concerned about entertainment posing as the Gospel, but I don't think this group can be judged guilty on the basis of their demonstrations in the public schools, which your video shows. This is far different from the demonstration they give in Christian churches and to Christian audiences.
Following the demonstration by the Power Team that I saw, a young boy was photographed on the front page of the local newspaper after having rescued his younger brother from certain death when the younger brother ran off and was playing on a railroad track, totally unaware of the danger. The photo showed the boy who rescued his brother wearing a T-shirt from the Power Team with the slogan, "God made you to win". This young boy had committed his life to Christ at the Power Team's presentation the night before. I was working for a local Christian radio station and called the Power Team's headquarters and hooked the boy up with John Jacobs, the Power Team's leader, who congratulated him on his heroism.
I wouldn't lump the Power Team in this batch of nutcases which don't preach the real Gospel, especially on the basis of that video, which was apparently shot at a public school. Christian groups which perform at public schools have to radically change their presentation to even get in. They attract the kids' attention at the school, and privately invite them to the Christian meeting at which they get "the rest of the story".

[Steve aka Xtian]

I saw the power team back in the eighties (yea I just dated myself) and here are my thots.

I remember reading about the "behind the scenes" stuff about the Power Team. It was about the agreements used to have the power team come & perform at one's church. Under the terms, they would come, do a market research of your community, then would give a guaranteed range of how many kids would get "saved" (I wonder how they do that?). Of course there were other things, like they must have a selling both for their products, a minimum attendance, etc. Of course all this came at a high price.... $35,000 (not sure what it is now, but that sure is steep).

About their message...

I would warn others that in our current sinful state, we are worth nothing, and that we are only good to die to our sinful nature, self, etc, and not "God made you to win!". In our present sinful state we are not made to win, but endure judgment and face Hell for falling short of God's glory. If we come to Jesus because "He wants us to be winners" we are missing the boat (especially when you follow scripture) because we are coming out of the wrong motivation. The same goes if we come to Jesus to escape Hell & get to heaven (IOW we are doing so out of a selfish motivation).

God wants people who have surrendered "all", not "some". God wants people who die daily, who pick up their cross & follow Him; IOW He wants people to pray...

"God whatever offends you in my life, tear it out of me! Kill, rip, burn it out, whatever you have to do to do that "less of me, more of You" thing. God dont stop getting rid of all that bad stuff no matter how much it hurts or what it costs. I just want to glorify you and have you with me."

Now that is a hard prayer - but be careful because this is prayer He will answer.

On the flip side about the power team, I am reminded Paul saying that even if people preach the gospel for wrong motives, that God can still work in and thru that.

Well thats my 2 cents. I just hope that whatever we do, we continue to ask God to brings us to a place of repentance daily so that we can conform more to His image and not our own.

Love ya all,

Steve
aka Xtian

[John Foust]

I've created a web site with a lot of info about the Power Team. See the link.

[JfTheophilus from GodsKingdomNow.com]

I think their idea to use their physical abilities to point people to Christ was an interesting idea & use of probably their hobby (working out). But their message needs to be tweaked. It's not that any of this has anything to do with Christ, it's that we just wanted to get your attention to tell you what's really important.

sadly, I remember them coming to my church. I don't remember much about what they said.. I do remember one negative thing though. They mentioned needed offering & "if you give God $20, He'll give you back $200." I ended up giving $20 b/c I was really wanting a computer... sad.

[Mike]

Maybe the problem was not in the gift, but your motivation. Say what you will about their methods, but if someone's life truly gets turned around from their message, then everything that they are doing is worth it. Self-righteous hypocrites. Start looking at the world through God's eyes....